Window well cover



Leo 5L- 7 INVENTOR' all 2 Sheets-S 1 na- I WINDOW WELL COVER March 1 1964 Filed v 22 1961 W 9 gm? March 10, 1964 Filed Nov. 22, 1961 L. L. GUST WINDOW WELL COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Leo L. Gust INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,123,868 WINDOW WELL COVER Leo L. Gust, 6253 S. Broadway, Littleton, Colo. Filed Nov. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 154,169 13 Claims. (Cl. 2040) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in basement window well covers and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, unique means for excluding the elements from such wells while admitting light thereto, the device being transparent.

Another highly important object of the present invention is to provide an improved transparent cover of the aforementioned character comprising novel means for firmly but removably retaining the device in position on a window well.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a cover of thecharacter described which is adapted to be expeditiously installed on a conventional window well without the necessity of modifying or altering said well structurally.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cover of the character set forth which is readily adjustable to conform to variations in the curvature and sizes of 'window wells.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved window well cover which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become "subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, showing an improved window we-ll cover constructed in accordance with the present invention installed;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of the device;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary View in vertical section through the lower portion of the device, showing the upper portion of the well; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical section through an upper portion of the device.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that reference numeral 6 designates a conventional window mounted in a basement wall '7 of a building 8. The window 6 is located below the level of the surface of the ground, as indicated at 9, and, therefore, a conventional well 10 is associated with said window. The window well lit, as usual, is substantially semi-circular and of corrugated metal, said well including a top bead 11.

The embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprises a substantially quarter-spherical hood or dome 12 of a suitable molded transparent plastic. The window well 10 being substantially semicircular, the horizontal or bottom edge of the quarter-spherical dome 12 substantially conforms to the curvature thereof.

Mounted circumferentially in the lower portion of the dome 12 and depending therefrom for engagement in the upper portion of the well It is a substantially U-shaped or semicircular base bar 13 of suitable metal. The bar 13 is rigidly secured to the lower marginal portion of the dome 12 by rivets 14. The bar 13 is substantially T- shaped in cross-section, said bar including on its outer periphery a circumferentially extending flange 15 which is adapted to rest on the top 11 of the well 10 and which the lower edge of the dome l2 abuts.

Mounted circumferentially in the rear portion of the dome 1-2 is a generally inverted U-shaped or semi-circular bar 16 which supports the back portion of said dome. The bar 16 is of angle iron, said bar including a radial vertical flange 17 which the vertical edge of the dome 12 abuts. The flange 17 is also adapted to abut the face of the building '8. Rivets 1'8 secure the bar 16 in the back portion of the dome 12. The flange 17 is radially slit, as indicated at '19, and the flange 15 is provided with similar slits 29'.

It is thought that the use of the cover will be readily understood from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, to install the cover the substantially semi-circular base bar 13 is contracted, inserted downwardly in the upper portion of the well lit and released, said bar expanding and engaging the interior of the well under tension. When the bar 13 is thus contracted, the bar 16 is also contracted, being secured at 21 to said bar 13. The slits 19 and 29 facilitate contraction and expansion of the bars 16 and 113. The flange l5 rests on the top 11 of the well lit and provides a firm, positive support for the cover on said well. The construction and arrangement also is such as to be substantially leakproof. As hereinbefore stated, the flange l7 abuts the building wall 8. The resiliency of the members 13 and 16, also of the dome 12, permits the device to readily adjust for slight variations in the dimensions or size and curvature of various well on which the cover may be installed. Of course, the device may be of different sizes for installation on wells of various dimensions. Also, the dome -12 may be, if desired, translucent or opaque. Still further, the cover may be of any suitable shape to conform with various shapes of window wells. Further, the dome 12 may be of any desired segmental shape.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A window well cover comprising a substantially segmental resilient transparent dome, and a resilient base bar mounted on the lower portion of the dome and depending therefrom and engageable under tension, upon a flexing 0f the dome and bar, in the upper portion of a window well for frictiona-lly securing said dome thereon, said bar including an outwardly projecting flange adapted to rest on the well for supporting the dome thereon.

2. A window well cover comprising a substantially segmental transparent dome, and a base bar mounted on the lower portion of the dome and depending therefrom and engageable under tension in the upper portion of a win dow well for positioning said dome thereon, said bar being generally T-shaped in cross-section and including an outwardly projecting flange adapted to rest on the well for supporting the dome thereon.

3. A window well cover in accordance with claim 2, said bar being arcuate and resilient and adapted to be sprung into the well.

4. A window well cover in accordance with claim 3, said flange having radial slits extending thereinto from the free edge thereof to facilitate flexing the bar.

5. A window well cover comprising a substantially quarter-spherical resilient dome, and resilient, arcuate bars mounted circumferentially on the marginal portions of said dome, one of said bars being compressible and circumferentially engageable under tension in the upper portion of awindow well for positioning the dome there- 6. A window Well cover comprising a substantially quarter-spherical resilient dome, and resilient, arcuate bars mounted circumferentially on the marginal portions of said dome, one of said bars being circumferentially engageable under tension in the upper portion of a window Well for positioning the dome thereon, the other of said bars including a right angularly extending flange abuttabie with a building wall over the well.

7. A window well cover in accordance with claim 5, said one bar including a circumferential flange adapted to rest on the window Well for positively supporting the dome thereon.

8. A window -well cover in accordance with claim 7, said other of said bars including a circumferential flange engageable with a building wall adjacent the well, both of the flanges having radial slits therein for facilitating flexing the bars.

9. A window well cover in accordance with claim 8, the end portions of said bars being secured together whereby said bars will flex in unison.

10. A window Well cover comprising a quarter-spherical transparent dome and a pair of resilient, arcuate metallic bars secured circumferentialiy in the marginal portions of said dome and protruding therefrom, said bars having 4- their end portion connected for flexing in unison, one of said bars being circumferentially engageable under tension in the upper portion of a substantially semi-circular window well for positioning the dome thereon.

11. A window well in accordance with claim 10, said one bar being substantially T-shaped in cross-section and including a radial flange engageable on the well for supporting the dome thereon.

12. A window well cover in accordance with claim 11, the other of said bars being of angular cross-section and including a circumferential flange for abutting engage- 1611i with a building wall over the well.

'13. A window well cover in accordance with claim 12, both of said flanges having circumferentially spaced slits extending radially thereinto from the free edges thereof to facilitate flexing the bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,027,811 Creamer Jan. 14, 1936 2,793,688 Robey May 28, 1957 2,863,177 Nelson et a1 Dec. 8, 1958 3,048,897 Slade Aug. 14, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 464,251 Canada Apr. 11, 1950 

1. A WINDOW WELL COVER COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY SEGMENTAL RESILIENT TRANSPARENT DOME, AND A RESILIENT BASE BAR MOUNTED ON THE LOWER PORTION OF THE DOME AND DEPENDING THEREFROM AND ENGAGEABLE UNDER TENSION, UPON A FLEXING OF THE DOME AND BAR, IN THE UPPER PORTION OF A WINDOW WELL FOR FRICTIONALLY SECURING SAID DOME THEREON, SAID BAR INCLUDING AN OUTWARDLY PROJECTING FLANGE ADAPTED TO REST ON THE WELL FOR SUPPORTING THE DOME THEREON. 